Since when has that kept homosexual pedophiles out of the Catholic priesthoods and the church's decades' long attempt to cover it up and the hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits they've had to pay out for their complicity in the crimes?
Other than being gay, this man has done nothing but write a children's book and read it to the children of his church. Knowing full well that the man was gay, why did the pastor invite him for the reading of his book? Could it be that one of the parishioners complained, forcing the pastor to issue his condemnation of the man? We'll never know...
Correct me if I'm wrong since I don't believe in religion due to the hypocrisy, but wasn't it Jesus who said: "“He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.” .......?
As for the "he who is without sin" line, it is more than just a call to balance and equity in the application of moral standards.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged, For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" – Matthew 7:1-3
My guess is that even though you "do not believe in religion," you might find merit in that particular religious teaching for reflection on and remedy of one's own failings.
Many parish priests don’t have immediate oversight over the schools associated with their parish, but do offer guidance to the principals and administrators. As per the article (yes, I know, I actually read it), the pastor did not invite him, the author’s friend the Pre-K teacher did. That was her mistake. Being a friend of the author, she likely knew he was not only gay, but “gay married” to another man, which is a scandal in the Catholic church. I doubt she told adminstration that she was inviting a publicly practicing homosexual to read to young kids. I also doubt that this man is as famous as he thinks he is, so no, “everybody” (in administration at least) didn’t know those little details of his life. But apparently some parishioners or parents were familiar with him, and notified the pastor after the fact.
All people who instruct children at Catholic Schools are considered to be lay ministers to them and are required to live according to Catholic teaching. Being in a public gay relationship is a scandal, and people in those positions will not be allowed to interact with Catholic school children. This has been upheld in many courts.
As it was, these kids were too young to understand, but there was still risk of scandal if other older students, parents, or parishioners thought that the school was cool with openly gay people interacting with kids. The priest wrote a very generic post, reassuring parents lest they think that drag queen readings might be forthcoming.
He didn’t mention the author’s name, his homosexuality, the book, or even that the reader was the author of a book at all. Was this guy the only guest reader during National Reading Month? How did he know the priest was referring to him?
As for your particular obscession with pedophile priests, that doesn’t have any bearing on this particular event. Just because a wrong has been done, doesn’t mean other wrongs should be allowed.
My $0.02
Love,
O2